Clump-forming perennial, suffruticose at base. Stems erect-ascending, 30-60 cm, sometimes purplish; below, eglandular vinous with a few glandular hairs, above with numerous short eglandular antrorse hairs few or no capitate glandular hairs and few sessile oil globules. Leaves pinnate with 2-3 pairs of lateral segments, below with a dense tomentose indumentum of antrorse hairs and numerous sessile oil globules; terminal segment oblong to linear-elliptic 3-4 x 1-2.5 cm; petiole up to 3 cm villous. Inflorescence showy, of 8-20-flowered distant verticillasters, usually unbranched. Bracts leafy, ovate-to lanceolate-ovate, green lilac or purplish, c. 2 x 1 cm; bracteoles present. Pedicels c. 2 mm in flower to c. 5 mm in fruit and erect-spreading. Calyx prominent, purplish, campanulate to broadly infundibuliform, c. 16 mm long in flower, expanding and broadening in fruit to c. 20 mm with diverging lips, membranous-reticulate, eglandular tomentose especially on veins; upper lip scarcely 3-denticulate. Corolla rose to magenta with white markings on lip, c. 23 mm long; tube c. 17 mm, ± straight, incompletely annulate; upper lip straight, bind. Lower thecae fertile, adhering; staminodes present. Nutlets ± spherical, c. 3 x 3 mm, smooth with some sessile glands at apex.

Fl. Per.: April-May.

Type: USSR, Pamir-Alai, Buchara, prov. Yakkabag, Samakh, M. Popov s.n. (hole LE).

Distribution: Afghanistan, C. Asia (Pamir Alai), Pakistan.

A conspicuous plant with its coloured expanded fruiting calyces, not likely to be confused with any other Pakistan species. Lace (on his field note 3746) notes that the flowers are used as a medicine for throat complaints".